We
hear the term ‘jump start’
quite often used to describe
a productive turnaround in gridiron
activity for a given team. That
term will be literalized when
Southern Mississippi steps onto
the field August 30th against
Louisiana-Lafayette. Larry Fedora
took the fast track to becoming
the 18th head coach here. He
brings a progressive offensive
mindset from his stays at Florida
and Oklahoma State that has
consistently proven its worth.
Fedora grabbed Arizona’s
passing game coordinator, whiz-kid
Darrell Wyatt, as his OC…
see, the thing is, Fedora and
Wyatt have each never coached
at their current level(s), respectively.
That fact aside, the talent
is in place to make these Golden
Eagles an offensive juggernaut
as quickly as the above-listed
schools Fedora has jump started
in the past.

Ok,
so finding the right quarterback
will go the farthest toward
turning USM’s profile
on its ear. Hattiesburg is the
place where, when mentioned,
BCS-level defenses are conjured
way more often than awing offensive
displays are to earn the ‘W’.
Austin Davis proved this spring
and summer that he deserves
the first shot under center,
but he and current backup Martevious
Young are anything but veterans.
Fedora creates balanced, no-huddle
attacks that are designed to
get the Golden Eagle offense
on and then off of the field
as quickly as possible. At Oklahoma
State, his offense has been
the only member of the 200-200
club for the past two years…the
Cowboys averaged that many yards
per game rushing and passing!

"We
are going to be in a hurry up
tempo," Fedora added. "We
are going to move during practice
and we are going to coach on
the run. We are going to get
on and off that field."
Smallish Damion Fletcher proved
he can take the abuse of a workhorse
back; he is the top returning
back in the C-USA and the top
of a demure-but-ready RB unit.
The line is a work in progress,
a good trait that can tie together
the newer schemes with the other
new faces and develop together
naturally (more naturally than
linemen who are used to one
way and cannot adapt, regardless
of their prior results). The
greener WRs have learned the
same quick way, and the reborn
offense here is greased for
success.

The
team’s signature dimension
also looks strong under the
new staff. MLB Gerald McGrath
is the reigning CUSA Defensive
Player of the Year. The entire
corps will be tested since the
line has four new starters.
Solid DBs mean the linebackers
can lend a hand without putting
undue strain on the (underneath)
coverage and/or other back seven
responsibilities. Todd Bradford
is also a first-time coach at
this (coordinator) level, so
the brain trust in Hattiesburg
will sink or swim based on pure
ability. Now you see why it
is so hard to predict where
this team may go, and just how
they wind up getting there.

The
schedule is split into two halves
– the first half features
non-con powerhouses (at) Auburn
and Boise State; only two of
the first six games are away,
while the last six games are
all intra-league, and four are
outside the 39406 zip code.
East Carolina is the toughest
C-USA foe at this preseason
juncture, but the wacky way
this conference usually plays
out precludes predictions from
holding much water. A solid
defense would be enough to secure
the Golden Eagles a spot in
the league’s championship
game (12-6-08). USM may even
do what many others have (and
they’ve never) done to
take the conference crown –
ride an unstoppable offense
and make sure they score last
to assure the win(s). Revamping
this team may take less time
than many think, and recognizing
the Southern Miss we’ve
all come to love and respect
may be tough after Fedora is
done this off-season.

Wipe
the slate clean. Coach Fedora is the
guy responsible for the most balanced
attack in I-A history – at Oklahoma
State, his 2007 squad earned 3,161
yards in each major category, both
rushing and passing the ball. In fact,
only Fedora’s OSU offense achieved
averaging 200 yards per game in both
running and passing dimensions over
the past two years. In the SEC (OC
at Florida in 2004), his offense in
2004 led the league in six different
categories under then-head man Ron
Zook. Now, Fedora props Arizona’s
former passing game coordinator –
Darrell Wyatt – as the guy in
charge of fine-tuning his plans. Part
of the slate being wiped clean is
that none (but one) of the current
QBs has ever thrown a single collegiate
pass. Austin Davis has shown the most
adaptability to the scheme(s) being
implemented with his mobility and
accurate arm. Not a rope thrower,
Davis can grow to become a local hero.
So could Martevious Young. A broken
leg on the third play of the Rice
tilt meant Young couldn’t play
again until this spring. His size,
accuracy and decision-making aren’t
as far Davis’s are, but he has
just as much potential to make the
offense hum under his guidance.

The
new offense will have Damion Fletcher
thriving. A great all-around back,
Fletcher could only pull down second
team all-conference status due to
UCF’s Smith (2,567) and Tulane’s
Forté (2,127) both being the
main CUSA studs. Hey, 1,586 yards
was the third-most for all sophomore
FBS runners and ranked 13th for all
FBS backs, so USM has a weapon in
this Biloxi product. The next back
in line has become walk-on Bubba Kirksey
due to dismissals. V.J. Floyd is the
incumbent backup, but all three backs
are sub-200lbs. As is Desmond Johnson,
an in-state phenom looking to redshirt
if those ahead of him remain healthy.
Bigger fullbacks (like Hurd, Barton
and/or Bryant) can be employed if
two backs are needed.

The
passing game will explode if the schemes
seen in Oklahoma City find some steady
targets. WR Torris Magee is an elusive
runner, whether given the ball or
catching it. Baptiste has an underneath
tag since he isn’t as strong
coming off the line. Nelson is a proven
weapon further downfield, and his
constant distraction will help Fedora’s
plans find fruition. The new receiver
threats are five-star DeAndre Brown
(6’6) and JUCO speedster Freddie
Parham (4.38 speed and 42” vertical
leap).

The
linemen are strong on the outside
and young (but somewhat tested) in
the middle. Wilson and McKee are on
different ends of the spectrum; Wilson
won’t be pulling too much with
his size/power, while McKee is athletic
and sized (6’6) to control his
man on the move. Housley has some
starting experience, but Hebert is
still green enough to have uncertainty
hover over his expectations. Sophomores
Zipp and Michaels are also concerns.
Depth isn’t bad, but the rigors
of the no-huddle seen so far have
shown hot-and-cold results. Breaking
the 2007 school record of 5,066 yards
could be an afterthought if all of
the elements come together.

TE
Shawn Nelson

SOUTHERN
MISS 2008 DEPTH CHARTReturning Starters/Key
Players

OFFENSE

QB

Austin
Davis-Fr (6-2, 205)

Martevious
Young-So (6-1, 185)

FB

Josh
Barton-Jr (5-11, 221)

Josh
Hurd-So (6-0, 214)

RB

Damion
Fletcher-Jr (5-10, 175)

Bubba
Kirksey-Jr (5-10, 180)

WR

Torris
Magee-So (6-2, 204)

Chris
Rhoden-Sr (6-4, 194)

WR

Gerald
Baptiste-Jr (6-0, 171)

Ed
Morgan-Sr (5-9, 160)

TE

Shawn
Nelson-Sr (6-5, 240)

Jonathan
Massey-So (6-3, 250)

OT

Calvin
Wilson-Jr (6-6, 352)

Jimmy
Driskell-Sr (6-2, 307)

OG

Wesley
Housley-Jr (6-2, 293)

R.J.
Brown-Jr (6-3, 300)

C

Cameron
Zipp-So (6-1, 289)

Alex
Michael-So (6-2, 310)

OG

Ryan
Hebert-Jr (6-5, 305)

James
Brady-Fr (6-4, 275)

OT

Ryan
McKee-Jr (6-6, 275)

Brennan
Houston-Jr (6-4, 301)

K

Britt
Barefoot-Sr (6-0, 181)

Justin
Estes-So (5-9, 160)

2008
DEFENSE

Todd
Bradford has done on this side of
the ball what he did when he rose
to become the offensive coordinator
at BYU. Coming from Oklahoma State
also, Bradford is in his first defensive
coordinators assignment, but learning
on the job has usually worked for
the Southern Utah graduate. We tell
you all of this because it reveals
what a well-rounded football mind
Bradford brings. That’s important
in a place where defense is king.

Boyce
has the 6’7 frame for disrupting
passing lanes, but he seems quicker
than he seems stout. Byrd will make
more noise in run stuffing. Gray will
do the same inside with his 300+ girth,
and in a year when foes will be tempted
to run on four new starters, this
is important. Phillips has the same
6’7 frame as Boyce, but that
isn’t good when plying inside
for getting low and therefore being
effective. Barragan could easily displace
Phillips by mid-September with his
upside quickly being found at this
level (JUCO transfer).

These
guys will need the linebackers help,
and Gerald McGrath seems to have enough
tackling ability to go around if needed.
Abanikanda uses his smallish size
to its optimal affect; his coverage
skills are excellent, and he has a
knack for getting into opponent’s
backfields. The other Davis from Meridian
– Brandon – is an ex-DB
with 4.4 speed who accentuates the
LBs’ speed and ranginess. Depth,
like Davis, is somewhat green for
what the rigors of CUSA offenses deliver.
As usual, the Golden Eagle corps will
be one of the nation’s best,
even if undersized.

Moss
Point’s C.J. Bailey surprised
many with his breakout Freshman All-American
efforts. Starting 10 games in ‘07,
Bailey seems like he can lockdown
any team’s best WR once back
from shoulder surgery (out this spring).
Willingham is the smaller of the two,
and his skills against bigger WRs
may make room for 5’10 McGee
to try his stuff. Wilson is as much
of a ball-hawk as incumbent Hicks,
but Wilson has to displace Hunter
if he wants to start again (three
starts as a frosh). Wilson as a nickel
seems like a certainty.

FS
Eddie Hicks

SOUTHERN
MISS 2008 DEPTH CHARTReturning Starters/Key
Players

DEFENSE

DE

David
Boyce-So (6-6, 243)

Andrew
Burns-Fr (6-4, 245)

NT

Eric
Phillips-Sr (6-7, 280)

Logan
Hickman-Fr (6-3, 265)

DT

Anthony
Gray-So (6-0, 311)

Rolando
Barragan-Jr (6-3, 295)

ROCK

Roshaad
Byrd-So (6-3, 258)

Codarro
Law-Fr (6-2, 230)

SLB

Brandon
Davis-Jr (6-1, 205)

Tim
Green-Fr (6-3, 190)

MLB

Gerald
McRath-Jr (6-3, 220)

Jerome
Lyons-Sr (6-1, 224)

WLB

Tokumbo
Abanikanda-Sr (6-0, 217)

Korey
Williams-Fr (6-2, 220)

CB

Eddie
Willingham-Sr (5-10, 179)

Paul
Inoa-Sr (5-11, 183)

CB

Michael
McGee-Jr (5-10, 181)

C.J.
Bailey-So (5-10, 182)

BS

Chico
Hunter-So (6-0, 190)

Cameron
O'Neal-Fr (6-0, 180)

FS

Eddie
Hicks-Jr (6-2, 185)

Justin
Wilson-So (5-11, 185)

P

Britt
Barefoot-Sr (6-0, 181)

Brett
Hicks-Sr (6-0, 185)

2008
SPECIAL TEAMS

Britt
Barefoot appropriately has multiple kicking
duties. His naked power is the team’s
biggest leg and a reason Barefoot’s
brought in on the longer kicking tries (made
his only try, a 51-yard conversion, in ’07).
Justin Estes is brought in for accuracy
and to give Barefoot a rest. Speedy Parham
and Morgan will try their sure hands at
the vaunted return jobs.